Want your kids to eat more greens and understand where their food comes from? Vertical gardening might be the hands-on solution. Here’s how families are using compact, soil-free systems to turn learning into lettuce—and vegetables into curiosity.
Getting kids to eat vegetables is one thing. Getting them to grow them? That's next level.
As more families look for creative ways to make learning fun at home, has become one of the most surprising educational tools of 2025. With systems that let you grow fresh produce indoors—using no soil and minimal space—parents are finding new ways to blend science, nutrition, and responsibility into everyday routines.
And the kids? They're naming tomatoes like pets and harvesting basil like pros.
Tower gardens are vertical, soil-free growing systems that use aeroponics: instead of planting in soil, the roots hang in the air and get misted with nutrient-rich water. The result? Year-round vegetables with up to 90% less water than traditional methods—and zero need for pesticides or a backyard.
It's no wonder parents are jumping in. Tower gardens fit in kitchens, balconies, or classrooms, and they're turning food into a family project. Kids not only eat what they grow—they get a front-row seat to how food systems work. It's biology, environmental science, and nutrition class, all rolled into a salad.
Experts have long said that hands-on education improves retention, and garden-based learning takes that to heart (leaf?). That's where programs like come in—a playful, story-driven way to introduce kids to core gardening concepts through characters like Tommy Tomato and Pepper Pete.
Each story explores topics like pollination, composting, and even indoor farming tech, using illustrations and narrative hooks to hold attention. Titles like "The Importance of Pollinators" and "Building a Tower Garden" are already popping up in public libraries across South Dakota, and educators say the characters help translate complex topics into something kids can understand—and remember.
Families using tower gardens and educational tools like Bucket Buddies say the impact goes well beyond a handful of cherry tomatoes.
One company helping lead the charge is South Dakota-based , which combines vertical farming tech with educational outreach. Beyond distributing Bucket Buddies grow kits and books, the company is currently developing a closed-loop vertical farming campus in Colton—a facility that will double as an education center for youth and families.
While the full-scale campus is still in development, families can already learn more about Smart Farms' home-based tower systems and educational materials. Their tools are designed to help households make food growing—and food learning—part of everyday life.
Whether you're a parent looking to make science a little more edible, or an educator searching for STEAM-aligned teaching tools, garden-based learning is planting real roots in 2025.
To explore interactive grow kits, vertical gardens, or family-friendly food education resources, you can learn more from experts—and find out how a little soil-free farming can go a long way in shaping how your kids see (and snack on) the world.
